How to look after pansies

Written by heather vecchioni

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Pansies come in a variety of striking colours. (Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images)

Many gardeners include pansies in their landscapes because of the bright colours and striking "face," or black design in the centre of the flower. Pansies are grown in both the summer and fall, from seeds or seedlings. Caring for the pansy isn't difficult, but tending to it and providing it with what it needs is essential in its success and health. With a bit of TLC, your pansies can grow to be healthy, beautiful and long lasting.

Skill level:

Moderately Easy

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Things you need

Fertiliser

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Instructions

1

Remove any spent buds or leaves from the pansy. Pull on the dead flowers and leaves gently, and they should come right off. Removing the flowers allows the pansy to redirect its energy to create new leaves and buds, instead of trying to support buds that are already dead.

2

Water the pansy whenever the soil looks dry. Insert your finger into the soil around the pansy to determine if watering is required. If your finger comes out with soil on it, the soil is adequately hydrated. If your finger is dry, your pansy needs moisture. Pour water on the soil until the dirt no longer accepts the water.

3

Remove any weeds that sprout up around the plant. The weeds will use up the soil's nutrients and make your garden look untended. Place a butter knife or similar object underneath the weed to make removal easier. Remove the weed's roots as well, or the weed likely will grow back.

4

Regularly check your pansies for signs of disease. Yellow leaves on pansies are typically indicative of root rot, as is a stunted or dwarfed appearance. Yellow, brown, or red spots on the plant are often signs of leaf spot, while powdery deposits on the pansy's leaves and flowers could be a symptom of mildew. Products are available to treat these issues, or pansies with these problems can be discarded.

5

Inspect your pansies for bugs. Aphids create a stunted or deformed look to a pansy, and slugs chew on the plant's leaves and stems at night. Spider mites cause the plant's leaves to turn yellow and fall off. Remove the offending critters from the plant with tweezers and relocate them, or cover them in boiling water.

6

Fertilise your pansy with a balanced product made for such flowers, such as a 5-6-5 formulation. Many fertilisers are applied once a month -- check the label for recommendations.